Recently someone I consider to be a wise teacher in my life, Philip Golabuk, stated that we are too much with the world and not enough with the self. I pondered what was the meaning of this statement. What does it really mean?
I’ve come to see it means I am too much with trying to make things happen in the world. Too much with believing there are an endless string of things to be worked through. Too much with giving attention to what I don’t want.
Too much being reactive to the world. Too much with shouldering burdens I am not meant to carry. And too much with believing I am in control.
Too much with getting and not enough with letting.
Too much with reacting and not enough with Being.
Too much with the head and not enough with the heart
Stated another way, as Meister Eckhart said: The outward man is the swinging door; the inner man is the still hinge.
Who is this inner man and which self are we not enough with?
Perhaps it is the inner self that doesn’t die. The inner self that lives in the deepest truth. The inner self which, when unobstructed, freely finds its way to goodness and grace. The inner self that rests in calm, still waters.
The self that reaches a turning point and lays down its arms, literally and figuratively. Knowing now there are no more causes to be fought or won. Our arms drop to our sides and then, perhaps only then, does the Field/Universe/God take up our cause.
lol yup too much… xoxoxoxoam
hi…love it when something I’ve been pondering is reflected here. thanks so much.